Improved apparatus for operating submarine shells or torpedoes



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

WOOD & LAY.

Operating Submarine-Shells.

Patented Mar. 14, 1865 u PETERS, aoro-Llmochwhin, WASHINGTON n c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WOOD & LAY.

Operating Submarine-Shells.

Patented Malt. I4, 1865.

' "Va-72 for Uivrre TATES ATN'E rrree.

M. W. \V. WVOOD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND JOHN L. LAY,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIG BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

NORS TO DONALD MOKAY, OF EAST Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 46,853, dated March 14, 1855.

To aZZ whom, it may concern..-

' Be it known that we, WILLIAM W. WV. 700D, chief engineer, UnitedStates Navy, and J. L. LAY, first assistant engineer, United StatesNavy, have invented certain Apparatus for Operating Submarine Shells orTorpedoes; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Our invention consists of certain apparatus (fully describedhereinafter) for so projecting from a vessel, submerging, and explodingsubmarine shells or torpedoes that their discharge may take placewithout danger to the apparatus itself, to the vessel from which theoper ations are conducted, or to those whose duty it is to manage theoperations.

In order to enable others to make and use our invention, we will nowproceed to describe its construction and operation.

011 reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure 1, Drawing No. 1, represents a longitudinalsection of our apparatus for operating submarine shells or torpedoes;Fig. 2, a side view; Fig. 3, Drawing No. 2, a plan view; Fig. 4, DrawingNo. 3, a transverse vertical section of part of the apparatus on theline 1 2, Fig. 1, Drawing No. 1; Fig. 5, a plan of part of theapparatus; Fig. 6, a sectional view of the front end of theoperating-rod, and Fig. 7 a detached view of part of the machine.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the bottom of the vessel in which the machinery is placed,B representing the iron-plated bows of the vessel, in which is anopening, 0, communicating with the water and air tight box or chamber D,of which a is the bottom, a the top, and b the rear. E is a water-tightcasing communicating with the interior of the box D, and in this casingis a sluice-valve, 0, having at the back a rack, f, into which gears acog-wheel on a shaft, 9, and on this shaft is a bevel-wheel, p, gearinginto a similar wheel, 1;, on the vertical shaft 19, the latterprojecting through and turning 1n the top of the casing E, above whichit is furnished with ratchet-wheel, z, the teeth of which are adapted tothe reception of a pawl, 1 On drawing back this pawl from the wheel thesluicevalve, which moves in suitable guides, will fall by its owngravity and present a perfectly water-tight construction in front of thebox D. On the top a of this box is an opening covered by a plain valve,0, which can be moved to and fro insuitable guides by means of a screw,0, and on the bottom of the same box a similar valve, (1, is caused toslide by a screw, (1, these screws being furnished with suitable handlessituated at accessible points on the outside of the box D. Through thisbox D, and turning in suitable packed boxes, jj, Fig. 3, attached to thesame, passes a shaft, F, on which is a barrel, F, for receiving thechain G, one end of which is attached to the operating-bar H at thefront end of the same. The chain passes through an opening in a block,I, which is arranged to slide on horizontal guiding-bars is 70, securedto the interior of the box. (See Figs. 1 and 5.) A horizontalscrew-shaft, J, passes through the sliding box I and is arranged toturn. in suitable hearings on the opposite sides of the box D, a rotarymotion being communicated to this screw from the barrel F through themedium of the wheel J ,secured to a tubular projection on the drum andgearing into a pinion, J, which gears into a similar pinion, J, on thesaid screw shaft, (see Fig. 5, Drawing No. 3,) so that when the drum Frevolves the block I is caused to traverse along the bars k 70, therebyguiding the chain G and preventing one coil of the chain from crowdingonto the other, as it is wound round the barrel. A clutch, K, Fig. 5, isarranged to slide freely, but not to turn, on the shaft F, the teeth ofthe clutch being adapted to similar teeth on the end of the drum F.Alever, L, is hung to a stud, I, secured to theinside of the box D, Fig.5, one end of this lever being forked so as to embrace the clutch K,which has a groove for the reception of pins on the forked arm of thelever, the opposite end of which is connected to a bar, L, arranged toproject through and slide in one side of the box D, as well as in abracket, 1, secured to the same. From one side of this bar L projects apin, m, which, under the circumstances described hereinafter, occupies aposition in a groove, m, formed by two strips, n a, secured to theperiphery of a disk-wheel, L, these strips extending only-partly roundthe said diskwheel, which is secured to a'shaft, M, the latterturning'in one side of the box D and in the lower part of a frame, M,which is secured to the bottom of the vessel, and the upper end of whichserves as an additional bearing for the above-mentioned shaft F. To theend of the latter shaft is secured a crank-wheel, N, Fig. 2, having anadjustable pin, which is connected, by a rod, a, to a bar, a, which isarranged to slidein a projection, a, on the frame M, the lower end ofthe bar being provided with a spring-pawl, h, adapted to the teeth ofthe ratchet-wheel h on the shaft M, which is furnished with a suitablehand-wheel, h. .In brackets P P, Figs. 1 and 3, secured to andprojecting from the top of the box D, turns a shaft, P, on which is adrum,P, for receiving the chain Q, the outer end of which is connectedto an adjusting-screw, q, in a plate, q, attached to the rear of theoperating rod H. Horizontal rods 7' are also secured to the brackets P,and serve as guides for the block 1", through an opening in which passesthe chain Q to the barrel P, this block being operated by ascrew-shaft,r, to which motion is communicated from the barrel through the medium ofthe cog-wheels t, t, and t, a clutch, s, on the shaft P havin g teethadapted to similar teeth on the barrel, and this clutch being under thecontrol of a lever, B, which is hung to a projection, R, on one of thebrackets P, as seen in Fig. 7, Drawing No. 3. The lower end of thislever passes through an eye or slot in one end of a horizontal lever, B,which is hung to a pin at the bottom of the box D, the end of the shortarm of this lever fitting, under the circumstances describedhereinafter, in the groove m, formed by the strips or n on thedisk-wheel L. It should be understood that these strips are beveled atthe ends which strike the pin m and the end of the lever 1% during theoperation of the machine.

The two barrel-shafts F and P are geared together by cog-wheels S S, andare driven by a steam-engine placed in a suitable position in the holdof the vessel.

The operating-barH is made of sheet iron, and is square, with thecorners removed. This bar passes through a sphere, S, Fig. 1, which isso fitted to the plate 20, attached to the rear b of the box D, as toturn freely therein, the sphere being confined to the said plate 20 byan annular plate, to, and suitable studs or bolts, and the sphere beingprovided with a suitable stutlingbox, e".

The operating-bar H also passes through a sleeve, T, Fig. l, on each endof which'are suitable friction rolls 1; 1), bearing against theoperating-bar. Attached to or forming a part of this sleeve are twodisks, T and T, or, as they may be properly termed, journals, which arearranged to turn in bearings U U projecting from and forming part of theplate U, (see Figs. 1 and 4,) which rest on a plate,

U, and turn on a central pin, u, secured to the said plate. The plate Uis so secured to acrosshead, V, that it can be moved freely o l the samein a longitudinal direction only.

A'screw-shaft, V, is-arranged to turn in brackets V, Fig. 3, secured tothe crosshead V, the threads of this shaft being adapted to similarthreads in the plate U, so that on turning the screw-shaft the positionof the said plate U on the cross head V can be altered at pleasure.

The crosshead is arranged to slide in verti' tical guides W V, Fig. 4,secured to the base-plate W, which is attached to the bottom of thevessel, each guide having at the top a pin carrying a pulley, W, overeach of which passes a chain, XV, one end of each chain being connectedto the cross head V and the other to an arm, X, Fig. 3, one of thesearms being secured to each end of the shaft X,which turns in brackets X,secured to the formulation-plate W. Another arm, X, is secured to theshaft X, and to this arm is connected one end of a chain, 20, whichpasses around apulley, w, on a hanger secured to the under side of thebase-plate W, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) the other end of the chain beingattached to the piston-rod w of the steam-cylinder x, the piston :13 inwhich is limited as regards its backward movement by the adjusting-screw.r. This steam cylinder is secured to the bottom of the vessel in theposition illustrated in the drawings, and is furnished with avalve-chest, a slide-valve, and a valve-spindle, y, with which may beconnected any suitable apparatus for operating the valve.

To one of the disks orjournals T, which, as before remarked, form a partof the sleeve T and turn in bearings U, are secured two rods, Y Y, Fig.3, and to projections y on the other disk or journal, T, are hinged tworods, Y Y, each of which passes through a staple-like projection, 3containing a spiral spring, as seen in Fig. 4, which springs, act ing onthe rods Y Y, tend to force the same toward the rods Y Y. To the outerends of the latter rods is hinged a plate, 2, which can be moved outwardto the position shown in Fig. 3, or inward so that its outer edge shalloccupy a position between the lugs 3 4 on the rods Y Y, astop, 5,preventing the plate from being moved beyond this point, and the lugs 3being rounded on one side for a purpose rendered apparent hereinafter.

A rounded projection, (i, Fig. 3, is secured to the inside of the bars YY, and is so arranged as to be acted upon by a rounded projection, 7, onone side of and near the rear end of the operating-rod H, under thecircumstances described hereinafter.

A rod, 8, Fi 3, is connected by a link, 9, to the bars Y Y, one end ofthe rod being jointed to a projection, 10, on the plate 2, and the otherend having a plate, 11, which is acted on by the set-screw g at the rearof the operating-rod.

t re operating-bar H,in the manner and at the t me explainedhereinafter.

Within the operating-bar [I is an internal rod, 12, the rear of whichprojects a given distance beyond the rear of the said operatingbar, inwhich the internal rod can be moved longitudinally to a limited extent,a suitable packing, 13, being so secured to the rod 12 as to prevent theWater from passing through the interior of the bar. To the front end ofthis bar 11 is secured a casing, 14, for containing the submarine shellor torpedo 15, the end of the internal rod, 12, projecting intothiscasing. The construction of the latter and of the rod will be bestobserved on reference to Fig. 6, Drawing No. 3.

To the end of the rod 12 are hinged two levers, 16 16, forming togetherjaws for grasping the head 17 of the shell or torpedo 15, the straightarm of one lever projecting through a slot, 18, in one side of thecasing, and the straight arm of the other lever through a sinr ilar slotin the oppositesidc ofthe casing, both slots terminating at the front inbeveled ends, and both levers being acted on by springs 19, the tendencyof which is to close thejaws.

The torpedo, which consists of a cylindrical shell of plate iron chargedwith explosive material, is placed in the casing 14, lugs on the torpedosliding along grooves formed in the said casing, so that the torpedocannot turn therein.

The jaws, which are open, owing to the straight arms of their leversbeing in contact with the beveled ends of the slots 18, receive the head17 of the torpedo, and this being pushed back into the casing 14,together with the rod and its jaws, the latter, owing to the springs 19,close on the projection 17 of the torpedo, which is thus held at the endof The torpedo, as seen in Fig. 1, Drawing No. 1, has two chambers separated from each other by a yielding wad or diaphragm, 18, the largerchamber containing the powder or other explosive material, and thesmaller chamber being a simple air-space, as described in thespecification relating to our application for a patent for improvementsin submarine shells or torpedoes.

A tubular chamber, 20, is contained within the shell, and at one end ofthis chamber a spherical weight is confined by two pins, 26 and 21,thelatter of which can be withdrawn, thereby permitting the weight tofall on a cap charged with detonate, and placed on a nipple at the endof the tubular chamber, this release of the weight taking place afterthe torpedo has been submerged and discharged clear of theoperating-rod, and when it occupies a vertical or nearly verticalposition in the water.

One end of a cord, 23, is attached to the releasing-pin 21 and is coiledin a chamber, 22, formed in the under side of the casing 14, theopposite end of the cord being attached to any part of the said chamber.

Operation: In Fig. 1 the several parts are arranged as they appear priorto the projection of the torpedo from the vessel and its escape from theoperating-rod, the sluice valve 0 having been elevated so as to leavethe opening 0 in the now of the vessel unobstructed.

The first thing to determine is the angle at which it is desirable tosubmerge the torpedo.

If it be necessary to move the operating-bar H so as to he at a greaterinclination than that shown in Fig. 1, the attendant so manipulates thevalvt-rod y of the steam-cylinder a that the steam will act on the frontface of the piston w and cause the piston-rod to pull the chain 10.Wlllt'll, through the arm X, shaft X, arms X and chains W, elevates thecross-head V, and with it the plates U U, the sleeve T, andoperating-bar H, and other parts connected therewith, the bar turning ona center coinciding with the center of the sphere S, which, togetherwith the plates 10 and it and stuffing-box N, form a perfectlywater-tight ball-and-socketjoint. The vertical position of theoperatingbar having been thus decided, its proper lateral positionshould be the next care of the attendant, for it may be advisable inmany cases to project the torpedo from the vessel at an angle laterally.By turning the screw-shaft V the plate U and the whole superstructure,including the sleeve '1, is caused to traverse along the crosshead V toany desired position, carrying with it the operating-bar H, which againturns in the ball-and-socke-t joint, the sleeve T, and its journals T T,and the plate U, and all the appliances connected therewith,accommodating themselves to the altered position of the operating-bar byturning on the vertical pin u. The driving-engine is now started andcauses the main shafts F and P to turn in the directions pointed out bythe arrows, Fig. 1.

It should be understood that when the parts are in the positionsillustrated in Fig. 1, the clutch s is in gear with the barrel P, whichconsequently turns with the shaft P, and th tt the clutch K is outofgear with the barrel F, which is therefore loose on the shaft F, thtsepositions of the clutches being determined by that of the wheel L, thestrips n a on which control both clutches, through the mechanism abovedescribed.

As the shafts F and P revolveiu the direction of their arrows the chainQ, mustbe Wound round the barrel P, and consequently the operating-barH, and with it the shell or torpedo 15, must be pushed forward, itsfront end being rapidly projected from the interior of the box D throughthe opening Gin the bows of the vessel, thus submerging the torpedo.

As the operating-bar approaches the limit of its forward movement theend of the screw q strikes the projection 11 on one end of the rod 8,causing the latter to pull the plate 2 forward, the edge of the platestriking against the rounded portions of the lug 3 so that the bars Y Yshall yield and permit the said edge of the plate to take a positionbetween the lugs 3 and 4. The operating-bar has now been projected tothe limit of its forward movement, and the rear end of the internal rod,12, is in front of the plate 2. In the meantime an intermittent rotarymotion has been imparted to the disk-wheel L from the shaft F throughthe medium of the crank-wheel a, sliding rod a, pawl 71, and ratchetwheel It, and the position of this wheel, when the operating-bar hasbeen moved out to the full extent, is such that the lever it is beyondthe control of the strips n a of the disk-wheel, and, through the actionof a suitable spring, the clutch s is thrown out of gear with the barrelD. At the same time the rod L and lever L are so acted upon by thestrips n n on the periphery of the disk-wheel as to move the clutch Kinto gear with the barrel F. As the shafts F and P continue to revolvethe chain G must be wound round the barrel F, and must consequently pullthe operating-bar back, the chain Q, at the same time running freelyfrom the loose barrel P. Immediately after the operating-bar begins tomove back the rear end of the internal rod, 12, comes in contact withthe plate 2, and its further progress is thus arrested, while theoperating-bar continues to move rearward. The consequence of this arrestof the rod 12 is the pushing of the torpedo 15 from the casing 14, bywhich movements the ends of the slots 18, Fig. 6, come in contact withthe straight arms of the levers l6 and cause the jaws to open and torelease the submerged torpedo. As the operatin g-rod continues to moveback its projection 7 comes in contact with the projection (3 on thebars Y Y, causing the latter to move back and to release the plate 2,which is opened by the operating-bar as the latter continues itsbackward movement. In the mean time the submerged torpedo, owing to itsbuoyancy, rises and comes in contact with the vessel against which it isdestined to be exploded. Owing to the backward movement of theoperating-rod the cord 23, attached to the pin 21 of the torpedo, isgradually withdrawn from the chamber 22, and this cord is of such alength that when the operating-bar is in the act of completing itsbackward movement the cord is pulled, the pin 21 withdrawn, and thespherical weight 19 is permitted to fall on the charged cap placed onthe nipple at the bottom of the chamber 20. The discharge of the torpedoconsequently takes place, and this at a time when the operating-rod hasbeen moved to a safe position away from the torpedo and within the boxor chamber D. The operatingrod having reached the limit of its backwardmovement the motion of the driving engine is arrested preparatory toreadjusting another torpedo in the place previously occupied by thatdischarged. In order to do this it becomes necessary, in the firstplace, to permit the sluice-valve c to fall by its own weight so as toform a perfectly water-tight end for the box D. After this the valve (1is opened, and the water in the box D is permitted to escape into thehold of the vessel, from which it is subsequently discharged by anyadjacent pumping apparatus. The valve cis then opened so that access maybe had to the interior of the box D, into which another torpedo isintroduced, there adjusted to the casing 14 at the end of theoperating-bar, and to the jaws within the same, the internal rod, 12,being pushed back to its former position. After this the valves 0 and dare closed, the sluice-valve e elevated, and the several parts are thenin their proper position for a repetition of the above-describedmovements and for the submersion,escape, and discharge of anothertorpedo.

\Ve claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Thecombination of the operating-bar H, the infernal sliding rod, 12, andthe jaws herein described, or other equivalent retaining or releasingdevices, the whole being arranged and operating substantially asdescribed, forv the purpose specified.

2. The packing 13, secured to the internal rod, 12, and fitting to theinterior of the operating rod 13, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The casing 14, arranged on the end of the operating-barll, for thereception of the shell 15, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

4:. The combination, substantially as described, of the operatingbar Hwith a cord, 23, so arranged and so connected with the shell and withappliances for igniting the chargein the same that the bar as itapproaches the limit of its inward movement shall be the cause ofexploding the shell.

5. The chamber 22, combined with the easing 14, and arranged for thereception of the discharging cord 23, as set forth.

6. The two driving-shafts F and P, with their chain-barrels, thechains Qand G, and the operatin ghar H, the whole being constructed,

arranged, and operating substantially as set forth.

7. The disk-wheel L, operated from one-of the driving-shafts andarranged to control the clutches on the said shafts, as set forth.

8. The sliding blocks I and V, caused to traverse in guides by the aidof screws, sub stantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

9. The sleeve T, adapted to the operating bar H, and combined with themechanism herein described, or the equivalent to the same, whereby thesaid sleeve can be turned in a vertical or horizontal plane, as hereinset forth.

10. The said sleeve T, in combination with the slides and guides andoperating-screws herein described, or the equivalent to the same,whereby the said sleeve can be moved to and fro horizontally.

1l.-The adjustable stop of the steam cylinder, in combination with thesleeve T, and the system of lovers, chains, and pulleys hereindescribed, or the equivalent to the same, whereby the said sleeve can beraised and lowered, and its down ward motion limited, as set forth.

12. The combination of the said movable described, or the equivalents,to the same, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

Inv testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. W. W. WOOD. JOHN L. LAY.

Witnesses:

WM. W. BRACKETT, Tnos. S. CUNNINGHAM.

